Local officials ask FEMA: Where's the flood money?

The rains have stopped and floodwaters have receded. Lowell's return to normalcy now depends on something besides the elements: money.

City officials are counting on millions of dollars in aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help recover from last month's flooding, considered the worst to hit the city in decades. President Bush declared Lowell and the surrounding region a disaster area on May 25 and federal officials say they are working as fast as they can to assess the damage and provide aid.

Lowell City Manager John Cox, who initially estimated that the city's bridges, roads, sewers, and other parts of its infrastructure suffered about $25 million in damage, said a more accurate assessment is continuing. He said the city's recovery will hinge on federal money.

``We have a lot of bridges, roads, sewers, parks, some of it uninsured," said Cox. ``We're still in the process of gauging the losses. It is clear that we will need help from the federal government."

State Representative Tom Golden said FEMA is not moving quickly enough to specify just how much it will make available to Lowell. This is critical, said Golden, because two weeks ago the Massachusetts Legislature formed a joint committee that will determine how much money the state can commit in financial relief to flood victims in the Merrimack Valley. Golden said the committee wants to see what FEMA will offer first.

``It's good that the federal government has designated Lowell as a relief area but the big question now is how much money are they willing to come forward with for recovery," said Golden. ``It's time for FEMA to step up. You'd think they'd be able to move faster than they have."

FEMA officials say they have stepped up. Brian Hvinden , a spokesman for the agency, said inspectors have been dispatched to affected areas of Lowell, particularly the hard-hit neighborhoods of Centralville and Pawtucketville, to survey the damage to public facilities. He said the inspections were completed last week.

``I can certainly understand the frustration coming from this event, but we're going through the process as quickly as we can," he said. ``It takes time to go out and look at all the sites, inspect the damage, and estimate the repairs that might be necessary."

Hvinden said the reports will be reviewed by FEMA's regional office in Boston and forwarded to the agency headquarters in Washington. He said the state must prove that overall damages to Lowell and other affected areas exceed a $7.1 million threshold to qualify for relief.

``The whole process could take a week," he said.

Hvinden said FEMA also has distributed about $500,000 in grant money to residents whose homes were damaged by the flooding. He said the money allowed homeowners to make emergency repairs or buy uninsured household items needed to make their homes safe and sanitary. Funds also were provided to people who needed money to pay rent because they were forced out of their homes.

``The money was disbursed across the region but a portion of it went to individuals in Lowell," said Hvinden.

Meanwhile, state officials said they will have a clearer idea of their role in the recovery once the legislation on Beacon Hill is finalized.

``We'll have some involvement though the extent of it has yet to be determined," said Peter Judge, spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

MEMA's disaster relief centers will be open two more days, tomorrow and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Local centers are located at UMass-Lowell's Olney Hall, 265 Riverside St., and in Lawrence at the Arlington Library, 51 Lawrence St.

The overall picture of the flood damage in Lowell is still coming into focus. Cox said the high waters on the Merrimack River prevented a thorough survey of bridges and several roads, and had only recently dried out enough to allow inspection. He said the city's losses may be considerably less than the $25 million damage estimate once insurance coverage is determined. ``Whatever figure we're left with is going to be significant," he said.

Lowell Fire Chief William Desrosiers said damage to private homes was significant in some areas near the Merrimack River. Flooding also caused sewer line collapses and the breakdown of some of the pumps at the sewage treatment plant on the Merrimack River near the Dracut line. The pumps have not been repaired.

Staff from Community Teamworks Inc. have helped temporarily homeless families find housing. Ed Cameron, a director of housing services, said the organization has helped 46 families relocate to apartments. He said the group has worked along with the American Red Cross and Catholic Charities of Merrimack Valley.

``These are homes that have been flooded and are not inhabitable," said Cameron, who said his group has spent about $10,000 in the effort.

A charity concert is being planned for June 22 at the Lowell Elks Lodge on Old Ferry Road, featuring music by Jack Knox and the Continentals. The Lowell Salvation Army has set up a flood relief fund drive.